Active user registry

ABSTRACT

An Active User Registry system includes a database which is integrated with the POTS network and a packet network to exploit the outstanding strengths of both of its constituents. The Active User Registry database is a dynamic data structure of all the ways in which one or more users can be reached via some type of communication network. A key feature of the Active User Registry is the ability to broker between a subscriber&#39;s request for communications contact information corresponding to a user and the user&#39;s preferences of being reached by various communications alternatives.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/090,602, filed Mar. 5,2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,408,920, issued Aug. 5, 2008, which was acontinuation of application Ser. No. 08/823,944 filed Mar. 25, 1997, nowU.S. Pat. No. 6,546,005 issued Apr. 8, 2003, both of which are herebyincorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates to communications in general and, moreparticularly, to a way of facilitating communication with individualsreachable over a variety of communications options.

The Plain Old Telephone Service (POTS) network, which has been inexistence for over 100 years, is well designed and well engineered forthe transmission and switching of 3 kHz voice calls. The POTS network isa real-time, low-latency, high reliability, moderate fidelity voicetelephony network. It is not designed for, nor especially well suitedto, other forms of communications, including wideband speech, audio,images, video, fax and data. The POTS network is inherently “telephone”or “handset” oriented and is driven by the needs of real-time voicetelephony.

There are approximately 270 million users of the POTS network in theUnited States, making POTS access nearly ubiquitous throughout the U.S.On the other hand, the POTS network has high access costs and, forinternational calls, settlement costs.

Packet networks are general-purpose data networks which are not tied tofixed-bandwidth circuits. Instead, they are designed to transmit bits(in the form of a packet of fixed or variable length) only when thereare bits to transmit. Packet networks evolved independently of telephonenetworks for the purpose of moving bursty, non-real-time data amongcomputers and are distinguished by the property that packetcommunications are routed by address information contained in the datastream itself.

Packet networks are especially well suited for sending stored data ofvarious types, including messages, fax, speech, audio, video and stillimages, but are not well suited for sending real-time communicationsignals such as real-time speech, audio, and video signals. Typically,one accesses a packet network through a client program executing on apersonal computer (PC), and so packet networks are inherently “PC”oriented, and client/server driven. Packet networks provide access todistributed databases and have excellent search capabilities.

There are approximately 30 million users of packet networks in the U.S.;the number of users is growing rapidly and will continue to do so overthe next decade. Today, the Internet (the largest and most renowned ofthe existing packet networks) connects over 4 million computers in some140 countries. The Internet is implemented using a large variety ofconnections between those millions of computers. These interconnectedcomputers can support applications, such as electronic mail and theWorld Wide Web, which facilitate communications between persons acrossthe U.S. or around the globe.

The Internet's global and exponential growth is common knowledge today.The recent developments on the World Wide Web interfaces and informationnavigation software, such as a multitude of Web browsers, coupled with acontinuously growing number of public access providers, are making theInternet a fundamental component of the information age, if not theinformation super highway itself.

Several alternate forms of communication have developed which utilizeeither the POTS network or packet networks (and sometimes both). Forexample, facsimile (fax) communication is now a commonplace option fortransmitting copies of documents over the POTS network. Electronicmessaging (e.g., e-mail) is a growing phenomenon for those who use apacket network, particularly the Internet, for communications. Inaddition, many companies today are using packet networks, locally orinternally within the company, which are modeled in functionality basedupon the Internet. These packet networks, denoted “intranets,” aretypically private networks owned or controlled by the company orcorporate user. Intranets are compatible with the Internet Protocol(IP), and often the same software used in connection with the Internet(e.g., Web browsers) is also used in connection with intranets. Intranetnetworks are often established to connect to the Internet through afirewall (i.e., a hardware/software combination designed to restrictunauthorized access to the intranet from the outside world).

A World Wide Web site on the Internet typically resides on a computerknown as a server, which is accessed through the Internet by a personutilizing a computer, such as a PC. A Web site consists of one or moreWeb pages comprising scripts written in Hyper Text Markup Language(HTML) and typically resides on a server compatible with HyperTextTransport Protocol (HTTP, a protocol for interfacing with the Internet).Pages at a Web site are typically accessible and viewed by the personusing the PC through software called a Web browser, which typicallyresides on the person's PC. A Web browser, such as the one by Netscape,interprets Web page HTML scripts to provide a graphical user interfacethat allows easy access to various services over the Internet.Equivalently, Web sites internal to and locatable over a corporateintranet may be set up and accessed in a like manner using the same orvirtually the same software (e.g., a Web browser). Such Web sitesinternal to a corporate intranet are typically HTTP compatible andaddressable using URL techniques, and contain Web pages comprising HTMLscripts.

Persons may browse the World Wide Web for virtually any kind ofinformation, including information having content derived from one ormore media, such as words, sounds or images. Increasingly, businessesare establishing Web sites as a means of providing information to andattracting potential customers, and Web sites are emerging as a means oftransacting business. One may locate a company's Web site by, e.g.,using one of a number of existing search engines available over theInternet, or browsing other Web sites containing links to the company'sWeb site, or entering directly the Uniform Resource Locator (URL), whichrepresents an address for the Web site. Typically, Web browsing takesplace in the context of an interactive communication session, where onemay, for example, direct the Web browsing session by choosing to followhypertext links found in Web sites and/or may respond to informationlocated at various Web sites.

An Internet-related development is packet telephony. Packet telephonyinvolves the use of a packet network, such as the Internet, fortelecommunicating voice, pictures, moving images and multimedia (e.g.,voice and pictures) content. Instead of a pair of telephones connectedby switched telephone lines, however, packet telephony typicallyinvolves the use of a “packet phone” or “Internet phone” at one or bothends of the telephony link, with the information transferred over apacket network using packet switching techniques. Intranets can also beused to provide electronic messaging as well as other packet-typefunctionality.

These communications options mentioned above provide, along with regularPOTS telephony, alternate paths for communicating between individualsand groups. A computer, such as a PC, is commonly used to provide outputfor display of a Web page or other multimedia content to a person usingit, for example through a video display and accompanying hardware forplaying audio. Such output may take the form of at least one of textual,graphic, animation, video, audio, or virtual object media. The computeror PC is also commonly capable of accepting input from the person usingit; such input may be provided by means such as a keyboard, a mouse, atelephone touch pad, a television remote control, a microphone, a MIDIport and so on.

As the concept of communications between individuals and groups changesover time, and further with the inclusion of messaging capability, imageand video telephony, handwriting transmission, and the integration ofvoice, other audio, image, video, handwriting, and data, it becomesessential to provide some easy-to-use and convenient mechanism to linkpeople together who want to communicate with each other. To illustratethe complexity of the task, consider trying to communicate with someonehaving the following ways of being reached:

-   -   home telephones (often there are two or more lines in a private        residence)    -   work telephones (generally people can be reached via at least        one work POTS number and a secretarial pickup)    -   cellular telephone (about 15% of the population can be reached        via a cellular telephone)    -   video telephone (e.g. Vistium system or Picturetel system)    -   pager/beeper (through either appropriate software or via 800        number services, individuals can receive ASCII messages or        numeric phone numbers to dial)    -   voice mail systems (most businesses provide voice mail (voice        messaging) for use when there is no secretarial pickup or for        calls that come in out of normal business hours)    -   video mail system (this is a feature that will start to be        provided as videophones and Vistium-like systems start to        proliferate)    -   e-mail systems (individuals often have two or more e-mail        addresses—e.g. Unix e-mail, ATT Mail, Lotus Notes e-mail,        Internet e-mail, or intra-corporate e-mail)    -   home answering machines (most private homes use telephone        answering machines to record messages when away from home, or        when the phones are turned off; also there is some use of        network voice mail services)    -   IP (Internet Protocol) addresses (which may be static when a        person is attached via a Local Area Network (LAN) connected to a        corporate network, or which may be dynamic when a person is        attached via a modem connection to an Internet service provider,        such as AT & T WorldNet™ Services); this type of connection is        also used for collaborative work systems with shared workspaces,        e.g. Vistium Share    -   business FAX number (associated with either the individual or        the workgroup within the office environment)    -   home FAX number (associated with a hardware FAX machine at home,        or with a FAX/Modem on a home PC)    -   paper mail (distributed electronically to e-mail addresses via        services such as POST)    -   home page (individuals and businesses may have a home page        associated with a Web site, e.g., locatable over the World Wide        Web using a URL address)

As one can see from the above list, any individual trying to reachanother individual has to deal with the daunting problem of knowingwhich ones of all of these options of reaching a person are in factpractical options for reaching that person, of determining theapplicable communications number or other communications address forsuch available communications options and, in addition, making adecision as to which is the appropriate option to use taking intoaccount the time and the purpose of the communication. Often this is adifficult—or an unsolvable—problem. For example, consider how one woulddetermine the active (e.g., via modem) or passive (e.g., via a LAN) IPaddress of an individual connected to a data network, as would be neededfor direct real-time IP-addressable messaging; on the other hand,messages may be sent to one's packet network address in non-real timevia currently-available e-mail techniques and, thus may be a preferableoption for packet messaging when an active IP address is unavailable.Other problems include the physical difficulty of making the desiredtype of communications connection which would render that mode ofcommunication impractical for the desired purpose (e.g., if it wasdesired to send a voice message without disturbing the addressee, howcould you connect to a home answering machine without the phone ringingand being picked up by the owner?; if such a capability is notavailable, another communications option may be preferable).

What is desired is a way of easily determining what communicationsoptions are available for contacting an individual at the time and forthe purpose of the communication and, additionally, the appropriatecommunications number (or address) for such communication contact.

SUMMARY

The present invention is directed to a system for creating and using anActive User Registry (AUR). The Active User Registry system comprises adatabase and computer or processor and is integrated with the POTSnetwork and a packet network (such as the Internet, or a corporateintranet). Integrating AUR with the POTS network and a packet networkexploits the outstanding strengths of both of its constituents, such asthe low-latency, high reliability, moderate fidelity real-time voicetelephony provided by the POTS network, and the point-and-click accessto distributed databases with excellent search capabilities provided bya packet network, such as the Internet (including those made availableusing browser technology in conjunction with the World Wide Web).

The AUR database contains a dynamic data structure (such as a linkedlist or a hashed table) of various ways in which one or more users canbe reached via some type of communication network (e.g., through thePOTS network or a packet network, or both), including access via theWeb. A key feature of the AUR is the ability to broker between asubscriber's request for communications contact informationcorresponding to a user and the user's preferences of being reached byvarious communications alternatives. Other features may be included withthe AUR, including an AUR cache which provides subscribers withrapid-access entry points into the AUR, or automatic updating of usercontact information. Further, the capability of learning the user'spreferences is included as an additional feature and is also included asa feature in an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an embodiment of an Active User Registrysystem in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a representative arrangement of data elements in accordancewith the present invention.

FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show diagrams for accessing an Active User Registrysystem in accordance with the present invention.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are diagrams showing alternative embodiments of an ActiveUser Registry system in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In accordance with the present invention, an Active User Registry (AUR)system is defined which, in its most basic form, comprises a computerand a database and which is integrated with the POTS network and apacket network (such as the Internet, or a corporate intranet).Integrating the AUR system with the POTS network and a packet networkexploits the outstanding strengths of both of its constituents, such asthe low-latency, high reliability, moderate fidelity real-time voicetelephony provided by the POTS network, and the point-and-click accessto distributed databases with excellent search capabilities provided bya packet network, such as the Internet (including those made availableusing browser technology in conjunction with the World Wide Web).

The Active User Registry database contains a dynamic data structure(such as a linked list or a hashed table) of all the ways in which oneor more individual or entity users can be reached via some type ofcommunication network (e.g., through the POTS network or a packetnetwork, or both). The term “user” herein refers to an individual orentity reachable through one or more communications options (such as,e.g., telephone over the POTS network, e-mail, fax, etc.); the term“subscriber” herein refers to an individual or entity seeking toestablish communications contact with and/or send a message to a user.In standard telephony parlance, the “user” is often referred to as the“called party,” and the “subscriber” is often referred to as the“calling party.” A key feature of the AUR system is the ability tobroker the user's and subscriber's preferences of reaching the user byvarious communications alternatives. Other features may be layered ontop of this most basic form of the AUR. For example, an AUR cache may beprovided to subscribers which provides rapid-access entry points intothe AUR for those users that a subscriber may regularly attempt tocontact; the AUR may include automatic updating of user contactinformation; or the AUR system may learn the preferences of usersregarding who may reach them by the various communications alternatives.Further, the AUR will enable customers to easily invoke enhancements toPOTS services such as messaging and mobility, by using point-and-clickinterfaces on their PCs to open up a range of services that is broaderthan that enabled by a simple telephone interface. Additionally, personshaving only a telephone could gain access to information from databases,formerly available only on the packet network though emergingtext-to-speech and voice recognition network interfaces. Moreover, newservices combining the simultaneous delivery of multimedia content to aPC and real-time communications (e.g. voice, audio, video) over atelephone become possible.

With reference to FIG. 1, the present invention will now be described inmore detail. As shown in FIG. 1, a typical user 100 (one of many suchpossible users) is linked to POTS network 110 through telephone 120 suchthat user 100 may be contacted by telephoning the number correspondingto telephone 120. The typical user 100 may also be linked to packetnetwork 130 (which may be, e.g., the Internet) through a PC, e.g.,multimedia PC 140 as shown in FIG. 1. A multimedia PC enables a user tointeract with information over the packet network in many forms, suchas, e.g., data, voice, images, and video. Multimedia PC 140 may belinked to packet network 130 using any one of a number of known methods,e.g., modem, ISDN, etc.

A subscriber who seeks to utilize the present invention may be linked toPOTS network 110 through telephone 150 or, alternatively, the subscribermay be linked to packet network 130 through a PC, such as multimedia PC160, using one of a number of known methods. A typical subscriber may belinked both to POTS network 110 (through telephone 150) and to packetnetwork 130 (through multimedia PC 160).

The Active User Registry system 170 is integrated with the POTS network110 and a packet network 130 through gateway 180. Gateway 180 acts as aninterface between AUR 170 and each of POTS network 110 and packetnetwork 130, to permit a subscriber to access AUR available informationthrough either the POTS network or the packet network. Those skilled inthe art will recognize that the advantages of the present inventionintegrating AUR 170 with packet network 130 and POTS network 110 couldbe achieved where the packet network includes the Internet, an intranet,or both. Those skilled in the art will further recognize that theadvantages of the present invention could be achieved by integrating AUR170 with packet network 130 (which could include the Internet, anintranet, or both) and a private telephone network (such as anintra-corporate telephone network) served by a private branch exchange(PBX).

Web access to the AUR system may be accomplished through an optional AURWeb site hosted on AUR Web site host server 185, which is a typical Website host server known to those skilled in the art. AUR Web site hostserver 185 may, e.g., be coupled to the AUR system through gatewayserver 180 or, alternatively, AUR Web site host server 185 may becoupled directly to the AUR system.

A URL-addressable Web site or home page corresponding to the user may behosted on user Web site host server 190. User Web site host server 190may be one of any number of typical servers commonly used for hostingone or more Web sites. Host server 190 may be privately owned by theuser or, alternatively, a Web site (or home page) corresponding to auser may be hosted on, e.g., a host server 190 that is provided by anInternet service provider, such as AT&T WorldNet™ Services.

Active User Registry system 170 is comprised of a computer 172 and adatabase 174. Computer 172 may be any one of the known computers, suchas a PC, or a server, or even a processor; computer 172 may also becomprised of communications equipment having a computer built in, orintegrated, into the system. For example, the AUR system of the presentinvention may be implemented on an adjunct platform known to those inthe art, such as the Conversant® Voice Information system produced byLucent Technologies.

AUR database 174 is coupled to AUR computer 172 through communicationslink 176, which may be accomplished through one of many known methodsfor linking a computer to a database, such as, e.g., a bus, or a LAN, oranother communications network. As shown in FIG. 1, communications link176 may also provide the link coupling AUR 170 to gateway 180; thoseskilled in the art, however, will recognize that another communicationslink may be used to couple AUR 170 to gateway 180. AUR database 174stores information about the networks as well as information aboutusers, including phone numbers, FAX numbers, mobile numbers, e-mailaddresses, URLs, etc. In its simplest form, AUR database 174 is adynamic data structure (such as a linked list or a hashed table) of allthe ways in which an individual or entity user can be reached via sometype of communication network.

Typically, the user will be identified by name and address, where theaddress would be used to resolve ambiguities between coexisting names(e.g., John Smith). Where the user is an entity, the identifier could bethe name of the entity (e.g., a company name).

Alternatively, the AUR system permits access of the AUR database byoccupation or title of the user, rather than by the individual user'sname or identifier. For example, the AUR system may be used to contact,e.g., the guard at the main reception for a particular business ororganization, or to contact the head of Security for the business ororganization. To accomplish this, the AUR database would include withcertain usernames (this may, but would not have to, include all users inthe AUR database) one or more functional descriptions of the activity ofwork, e.g. job title, cross-references to job occupation, etc. as wellas the name of the employer. In the case of an entity as the user, the“occupation” could include a reference to the type of business in whichthe entity is engaged (e.g., clothing retailer).

For a typical user, the entries in the AUR database 174 might includethe following:

Username; UserAlias1; UserAlias2; . . . , HomePhone1; HomePhone2;

WorkPhone; WorkSecretary; CellularPhone1; VideoPhone; . . . ;

WorkVoiceMessages; HomeAnsweringMachine; VideoMailMessages;

BeeperNumber1; . . . ; Email1; Email2; . . . ; WorkFAX1; WorkFAX2;

HomeFAX; . . . ; LAN IP; ModemIP; . . . ; URL1; URL2; . . . ;Multimedia1;

Multimedia2; . . . ; ReachNumber

The AUR database consists of a series of user records, each user recordcontaining one or more of the entries listed above. One possiblearrangement of the AUR database is shown in FIG. 2. With reference toFIG. 2, the AUR database as depicted consists of N user records, record201 corresponding to user 1, record 202 corresponding to user 2, record203 corresponding to user 3, and so forth. Each user record in the AURdatabase contains entries for the above-listed user communicationscontact information. Thus, as shown in the example of FIG. 2, record 201corresponding to user 1 consists of a set of entries 210, 220, 230, 240,250, 260, 270, 280 and 290, each corresponding to a different categorywith each entry potentially consisting of one or more information dataelements.

The corresponding function of these entries in the user record will nowbe described. The data elements in entry category 210 correspond toidentifier information. Username represents the formal name of the userto whom the listed information corresponds (similar to a name listed ina telephone directory), and could typically include further identifyinginformation such as home street address, home city or town, and/oremployer name and location; such further identifying information wouldbe useful in resolving ambiguities that may occur in locating thedesired user record in the AUR database (e.g., which Jane Smith).UserAlias1, UserAlias2, etc. represents other names (such as nicknamesor initials) by which the user is known. In addition, the data in entrycategory 210 could include identifying information, such as a picture, ahandwritten signature, fingerprints, etc.

The data elements (HomePhone1, HomePhone2, WorkPhone, WorkSecretary, andCellularPhone1) in entry category 220 represent the various home, work,cellular (or portable) telephone numbers by which the user may normallybe reached (the ability to reach a user by one or more of these numbersmay be subject to the user's preferences, as discussed below). TheVideoPhone data element of entry category 220 would represent thecommunications number or address for contacting the user via avideophone device. The data elements WorkVoiceMessages,HomeAnsweringMachine, VideoMailMessages, and BeeperNumber1 of entrycategory 230 would represent the number or address for the varioustelephonic or videophonic means for leaving a voice (or video) messagefor the user, or for requesting the user to make a telephone orvideophone call.

There are entries as well corresponding to electronic or digitalmessaging. Entry category 240 contains data elements Email1 and Email2representing e-mail addresses for the user. WorkFAX1, WorkFAX2, andHomeFAX are data elements in entry category 250 representing the variousfacsimile numbers for transmitting facsimile messages to the user atwork or at home. Entry category 260 contains data elements LAN IP andModemIP representing the IP addresses by which the user may be reachedvia a packet network for carrying out real-time IP messaging (e.g., toconnect the user in an Internet phone call).

Category 270 contains data elements corresponding to URLs for accessinga user's Web site, home page (or HTML page) using a browser. Thus, asubscriber accessing the AUR system may, once in the AUR database, clickto enter the Web page for the user, and thereby become directlyconnected to the user's personal or business home page (or another entryWeb page) if accessing the AUR from an Internet Browser.

Further, as reflected by entry category 280, the AUR database mayinclude addresses (such as URL or IP) to multimedia information aboutthe user, e.g. textual documents such as biographies, resumes, etc;pictures of them, their families, or other events of their choice; videoclips of them, their families, or other events of their choice; audioclips of special or general purpose interest, etc. When such multimediainformation is accessed via an Internet browser (i.e. a Web browser orequivalent), the user could click to access the desired text document,picture, video, or audio clip. Every user record could easily have anassociated Portrait Picture of the individual and perhaps his/herfamily, as well as any other important personal information that mightbe desired—e.g. resume, bibliography, personal information, etc.Optionally, personal identifying information, such as biographical andfamily information or pictures or video clips listed above in connectionwith element 280, may be included under entry category 210.

Entry category 290 consists of data element ReachNumber, whichrepresents a telephone or other communications number by which the usermay be currently reached by direct contact. ReachNumber 290 may, forexample, be one of the above-referenced numbers (e.g. HomePhone1,CellularPhone1 or VideoPhone) or a temporary number (e.g., a telephonenumber for a hotel in which the user stays during business travel, orthe number for a business associate hosting a meeting with the user).

Those skilled in the art will recognize that each of the entriesdescribed above corresponds to a user communications address for theparticular communications option; for example, an address for reaching auser by telephone is one of the given telephone numbers (e.g.,HomePhone1, HomePhone2, etc.), and an address for reaching a user bye-mail is one of the e-mail addresses (e.g., Email1, Email2). It shouldbe clear to those skilled in the art that the specific entries and dataelements described with reference to FIG. 2 are provided as arepresentative example only and are not intended to be limiting; any oneof the almost infinite number of possible combinations of entries,elements and their organization can be utilized within the AUR databasewithout detracting from the advantages of the present invention.

One key feature of the AUR is the ability to broker among communicationsoptions between, on the one hand, the user's preferences for beingcontacted or communicated with by others and, on the other hand, thesubscriber's requested preference for making contact or otherwisecommunicating with the user, taking into account such factors as thetime, the day, the identity of the person requesting the information orthe purpose of the communication. In accordance with the presentinvention, the AUR database 174 may contain one or more lists ofpreferred communications options, for a given user, by which the userdesires to be contacted. These preferred options may include, e.g.,preferences for being contacted according to time-of-day or day-of-week,to preferences based upon the identity of the subscriber who isattempting to communicate with the user. These preferences may eveninclude those based upon linking the AUR to a source of information forthe user's schedule, such as, e.g., the user's personal informationmanager or personal digital assistant (such devices or sources, and anysimilar devices or sources, will be collectively referred to herein as a“personal information source”), such that the preferences (and thecontact information) would change automatically depending upon theuser's schedule as obtained from the user's personal information source.The AUR may be linked to a user's personal information source over,e.g., a communications network.

As an illustration, a user could have one set of preferences selectedfor the time slot 6:30 am to 7:15 am, another set of preferences for thetime slot 7:15 am to 7:30 am, another set of preferences for the timeslot 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, another set of preferences for the time slot6:00 pm to 6:15 pm, another set of preferences for the time slot 6:15 pmto 11:000 pm, another set of preferences for the time slot 11:00 pm to11:30 pm, and a last set of preferences for the 11:30 pm to 6:30 am timeslot. These time slots might roughly correspond to the workday schedule:

6:30 am, wake up

7:15 am, leave for work

7:30 am, arrive at the office

6:00 pm, leave for home

6:15 pm, arrive home

11:00 pm, get ready to go to sleep

11:30 pm, go to sleep

A complementary sequencing of preferences during time slots could bearranged for weekends when one doesn't go to work, as well as forvacations, etc. The ability to dynamically change the list ofpreferences permits the user's preferences to keep up with individualschedules, change of work assignments, vacations, trips, etc. The user'spreferred communications options, thus, may include different ways ofbeing contacted for each of these time slots.

Additionally, the user may establish preferences for being contactedwhich depend on who is trying to reach the user. Hence, for example,when a member of the user's family is attempting to contact the user,there could be a user preference that always chooses a phone wheresomeone is available to answer the phone, whereas if a salesperson orwork colleague is calling, there would be another preference where theuser would be disturbed by telephone far less often.

In light of these potential types of user preferred communicationsoptions, the brokering process utilized by the AUR system of the presentinvention will now be described through the following examples. Theseexamples are meant to be illustrative of the process of the presentinvention and are not intended to be limiting. With reference to FIGS.3A, 3B and 3C as an illustration of the brokering process, assume a userat work has established a preferred option, such that during theafternoon work time only a family member may reach the user directly bytelephone, and that all other communications are to be made by messaging(such as voice mail, e-mail or fax). In the example shown in FIG. 3A, anon-family member subscriber attempting to contact the user at workprefers to leave a facsimile message for the user, as opposed to voicemail or other electronic message.

The subscriber in this example initiates at step 301 a contact to theAUR system using multimedia PC 160 (shown in FIG. 1) by, e.g., using amodem to connect or to dial in to a site corresponding to AUR system 170(shown in FIG. 1) or, alternatively, by sending a message to an IPaddress corresponding to the AUR system. The AUR system responds bypresenting an access menu to the subscriber. Using a text-based searchtool (text-based search tools are known to those in the art), thesubscriber at step 302 enters a user identifier, such as informationcorresponding to the identity of the user (e.g., the user's name) andinitiates, though the AUR system, a search of the AUR database for theuser of interest to the subscriber. The subscriber at step 303 requeststhe AUR system to provide a communications number for sending afacsimile message for the user (this could be done, e.g., by typing theinformation in or by speaking into a microphone contained within thePC). The AUR system at step 304 compares the subscriber's request(facsimile message) against the user's preferred options (e-mail, voicemail or fax from a non-family member during the afternoon). The AURsystem selects facsimile messaging (in this example, facsimile messagingis common to both user and subscriber preferences) and provides, at step305, a facsimile address for the user (e.g., WorkFax1) to thesubscriber. The subscriber then at step 306 initiates a communicationscontact with the user at the WorkFax1 address. Alternatively, the AURsystem could ask the subscriber for a message or a filename of adocument to be faxed and send it electronically to the user without theneed to ever pass along the user's fax number to the subscriber. In thismanner, the AUR provides a seamless interface to the brokeredcommunications service without the need for the subscriber to know or toenter any user numbers.

Similarly, in the example shown in FIG. 3B, the non-family membersubscriber at step 311 initiates a contact to the AUR system usingtelephone 150 (shown in FIG. 1) by, for example, dialing a telephonenumber corresponding to AUR system 170 (such as, e.g., dialing1-800-CALLATT and requesting the AUR system or alternatively, requestingthe AUR cache). At step 312, the subscriber then enters a useridentifier, such as username, by, e.g., speaking the name or pushingbuttons on the telephone keypad corresponding to the letters of theuser's name which initiates, through the AUR system, a search in the AURdatabase. By speech or by keypad, the subscriber enters a request forcontacting the user by leaving a voice message at step 313. The AURsystem at step 314 compares the subscriber's request (voice messaging)against the user's preferred options (e-mail, voice mail or fax from anon-family member during the afternoon) and, at step 315, returns theuser's voice mail address (WorkVoiceMessages) to the subscriber (e.g.,by speaking over the telephone the address obtained from the AURdatabase). Then at step 316 the subscriber initiates a communicationscontact using the appropriate communications number or address obtainedfrom the AUR database, in this example, by dialing the telephone numbercorresponding to the user's voice mail (WorkVoiceMessages).Alternatively, the AUR system could ask the subscriber to record a voicemessage and then send it automatically to the user's WorkVoiceMessagesaddress without the need to ever pass along the user's voice mail numberto the subscriber. As in the previous example, in this way the AURprovides a seamless interface to the brokered communications servicewithout the need for the subscriber to know or to enter any usernumbers.

In the example depicted in FIG. 3C, the subscriber initiates at step 321a contact to the AUR system using multimedia PC 160 (shown in FIG. 1)by, e.g., using a Web browser to access an AUR Web site (via, e.g., AURWeb site host server 185) corresponding to AUR system 170. Through theWeb site, the AUR system presents a Web page having an access menu tothe subscriber. Using a search tool available through the AUR Web site(there are many known Web-based search tools), the subscriber at step322 enters a user identifier and initiates through the AUR system asearch of the AUR database for the user of interest to the subscriber.The subscriber at step 323 requests the AUR system to provide a URL forvisiting the user's home page and then leaving an e-mail message for theuser. The AUR system at step 324 compares the subscriber's request (URLaddress and e-mail message) against the user's preference (e-mail, voicemail or fax). The AUR system selects e-mail (in this example, e-mail iscommon to both user and subscriber preferences) and provides, at step325, an e-mail address for the user (e.g., Email1) to the subscriber;because the subscriber desired to visit the user's home page, the AURWeb site also provides a link for jumping to the user's home page. Thesubscriber then at step 326 can initiate an e-mail message to the userat the user's e-mail address (Email1), and then the subscriber can jumpto the user's home page on the World Wide Web (as hosted on user hostserver 190, shown in FIG. 1) or an equivalent to a home page on anintranet, typically by clicking on a reference to a URL-compatibleaddress for the user's home page (e.g., URL1) provided by the AURsystem. Alternatively, the AUR system could ask the subscriber for thetext of, or filename for, a message to be sent and send itelectronically to the user without the need to ever pass along theuser's e-mail address to the subscriber. In this manner, the AURprovides a seamless interface to the brokered communications servicewithout the need for the subscriber to know or to enter any useraddresses.

Additional capabilities may be included with the brokering processdescribed in the above examples. For example, the brokering process cancompare the user's preferred communications options against thesubscriber's request and, if there is not a direct match, determine acommunications option having at least one communications property incommon with both the user's preferred communications options and withthe requested communications option (i.e., choose an option having acommon denominator between the two) based upon a hierarchy of availableand desired communications options. A hierarchy of communicationsoptions may be constructed based upon the relative ease or difficulty inestablishing contact with the user. For example, communications optionssuch as e-mail or fax are near one end of the hierarchy, since theyrepresent options by which it is fairly easy to establish contact with auser. All one need do is direct a message to a known e-mail or facsimileaddress, and the e-mail or facsimile process normally takes care of“delivering” the message to the user, with the user having little chanceto “filter” out the message. At the other end of the hierarchy is directvoice contact, such as by a telephone call, which requires not onlyknowledge of the user's telephone number but also that the user actuallypick up the telephone and respond to the call. At this end of thehierarchy, the user has substantial capability of “filtering” to avoidthe contact—e.g., in the case of a telephone call, by not answering thecall or by hanging up without carrying on the conversation desired bythe caller. In between these extremes of the hierarchy lie othercommunications options, such as voice messaging (e.g., voice mail), inwhich the user may have limited degree of “filtering” capability.

Using such a hierarchy could allow the subscriber to request a range ofoptions and/or for the user to select a range of preferredcommunications options. For example, if the subscriber requests contactwith a party using a telephone connection (with highest preference beingdirect voice contact, but voice messaging is acceptable), and the user,on the other hand, prefers to be contacted via messaging (with highestpreference to receiving an e-mail message, with other forms of indirectmessaging acceptable, but not direct voice contact), the AUR system canbroker the request by determining the lowest common denominator—in thisexample, voice messaging—and, assuming the voice messaging mode isacceptable to both the user and subscriber (i.e., voice messaging iswithin the hierarchy of acceptable communications options for thesubscriber and the user), the AUR can offer the user's WorkvoiceMessages(or HomeAnsweringMachine) communications address to the subscriber.

Alternatively, the brokering process of the present invention can beaccomplished by performing an intelligent comparison between the user'spreferred communications options and the subscriber's request, and theninitiating a conversion (or, equivalently, a translation) of a messagefrom one message media corresponding to the subscriber's request toanother message media required by the user's preferred communicationsoptions. Such an intelligent brokering process may be particularlyuseful when the communications options available to a subscriber or auser are limited in some manner (e.g., the user may be temporarilyunable to receive a voice message, while voice messaging may the onlypractical option available at that time to the subscriber).

Thus, for example, if the subscriber requests to send a fax to the user,but the user prefers to receive an e-mail message, the AUR system couldbroker these options such that the subscriber sends the fax through theAUR system (by, e.g., giving the subscriber a fax address thatcorresponds to a communications address associated with the AUR system),which would then convert the text portions of the fax transmission intoan electronic message to be sent as e-mail to the user via the user'spreferred e-mail address contained in the AUR database. Methods forconverting text portions of a facsimile transmission into electronicmessages, e.g. using optical character recognition (OCR) techniques, arewell-known to those skilled in the art. Alternatively, a layered versionof a fax transmission (text plus other visual or graphical material) maybe converted into an equivalent electronic form for sending as anelectronic message.

As another example, if the subscriber requests to send a voice message,and the user prefers to receive e-mail, the AUR system could accept thevoice message from the subscriber, convert the voice message to anelectronic message using one of a number of known voice-to-textconversion techniques (using large vocabulary speech recognitioncapability, as is well understood in the art), and send the resultingmessage to the user via e-mail. Other examples of conversion that arepossible with the intelligent brokering process described herein includee-mail to voice messaging; e-mail to fax; voice to fax, and so on. Theseexamples are not intended to be limiting, but instead demonstrate thecapability of the brokering process to resolve what would otherwiseappear to be “conflicts” between a subscriber's request and a user'spreferences and achieve a desired result—providing a way for asubscriber to communicate with a user in accordance with thesubscriber's request and the user's preferred options.

The AUR system can be made easier to use by providing a voice interfacethat is responsive to and initiates voice commands enabling interactionwith, and control and management of, the AUR database from any availablevoice-compatible communication interface. A voice interface can beimplemented using voice recognition techniques and speech recognitiontechniques known to those skilled in the art. For example, a platformsuch as the Lucent Conversant® Voice Information System would alsoinclude sufficient capabilities for implementing a voice interface.

As a further enhancement, the AUR system could, as referred to above inthe examples, automatically initiate the communications indicated fromthe AUR database, such that, for example, a telephone call couldautomatically be dialed (e.g., in response to a voice command orclick-to-dial) or an e-mail message automatically addressed, or a linkto a URL address automatically initiated using a Web browser. This wouldpermit, e.g., contact by a subscriber (otherwise within the user'spreferred list) to a user having an “unlisted” communications address(i.e., the address is not available in a published directory). Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that use of any number ofcommunications options indicated to the subscriber through the AURsystem could be automatically initiated in accordance with the featuresof the present invention.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, which contain diagrams showing a userlinked to the POTS network and a packet network based upon theconfiguration depicted in FIG. 1 and described above. For ease ofunderstanding, the items shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 having reference numbersbeginning with “1” correspond to the same numbered items as shown inFIG. 1. The alternative embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 will now bedescribed with respect to the differences from the embodiment shown inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows two instances of AUR cache 410, which comprises memorycontaining data storage for one or more subscribers. AUR cache 410 islinked to a subscriber's telephone 150 via, e.g., a connection betweenthe subscriber's telephone line and the AUR cache; alternatively, AURcache 410 may be linked to a subscriber's multimedia PC 160 through,e.g., a connection between the AUR cache and the communications linethrough which the multimedia PC is linked to the packet network, or eventhrough a device contained with the multimedia PC.

The data stored in AUR cache 410 for each subscriber includes a dynamicdata structure (such as a linked list or a hashed table) comprisingusernames and aliases which correspond to one or more users that thesubscriber attempts to contact on a more than infrequent basis. Forexample, the AUR cache could automatically update a subscriber's recordwith information corresponding to a particular user that the subscribercalls once a week. Each entry in the subscriber's record would alsoinclude, for each user, data representing an entry point (e.g., apointer) into the corresponding user record in the AUR. The subscribercould look up the user's username or user alias in the AUR cache, whichwould provide a pointer to the user's record in the AUR database. Oneadvantage of the AUR cache is that it would enable a particularsubscriber to resolve conflicts or ambiguities in the access to the AURdatabase and the pointer into the corresponding AUR record could then bestored in the AUR cache, saving the subscriber the effort of resolvingthat choice for each subsequent use of the AUR. For example, if thesubscriber wishes to communicate with John Smith, the subscriber couldtell the AUR which “John Smith” is desired, and the pointer to therecord in the AUR database for that John Smith could be stored in theAUR cache for the next time the subscriber seeks to contact John Smith.In this way, the subscriber has available via the AUR cache rapid-accessentry points into the AUR database for those users contacted on a morethan infrequent basis. This also provides a way for convenient voiceaccess into the AUR database without the subscriber having to resolvename ambiguities (or otherwise recognize a name) every time thesubscriber attempts to access a particular user.

Another advantage of providing an AUR cache containing pointers into theAUR database is that the communications contact information in the AURwhich is accessed through the AUR cache remains as current as the AURdatabase itself; each time the AUR database is updated (e.g., throughchanges by the user or through changes made by the network) thoseupdates become available to the subscriber who uses the AUR cachethrough the use by the cache of pointers into the AUR database.

Because the amount of information required for each user entry in asubscriber's record is minimal, AUR cache 410 could be implemented inone of a number of known ways to store small amounts of data, e.g., acard with a magnetic stripe, which would correspond to an AUR cache fora single subscriber or, possibly, for a small number of subscribers(e.g., a subscribing family could have individual records for eachfamily member all contained on a single card). As an alternative, thesubscriber record or records associated with the AUR cache could bemaintained in memory commonly used with a PC, e.g., a hard disk or aremovable disk, or on any computer-readable medium. In anotheralternative, an AUR cache for a larger number of subscribers could bemaintained on a local network, such as a LAN or in a central telephoneoffice serving the community in which the subscribers are located.

FIG. 5 shows AUR cache 510 linked to gateway 180. AUR cache 510 containsdata storage for one or more subscribers and, as described above withreference to AUR cache 410 of FIG. 4, the data stored for eachsubscriber would include a dynamic data structure (such as a linked listor a hashed table) comprising usernames and aliases which correspond toone or more users that the subscriber attempts to contact on, e.g., amore than infrequent basis. The difference between AUR cache 510 of FIG.5 and AUR cache 410 of FIG. 4 is the location of the AUR cache, i.e.,the AUR cache of FIG. 5 is maintained in connection with the AUR systemand accessed remotely by a subscriber through gateway 180. In this way,it would enable in a practical way an AUR cache having a larger memorycapacity, to serve a larger base of subscribers.

Although neither AUR Web site host server 185 nor user Web site hostserver 190 (each shown in FIG. 1) are depicted in FIG. 4 or 5, thoseskilled in the art will recognize that either AUR Web site host server185 or user Web site host server 190 could be utilized in thealternative embodiments described in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5 inthe same or similar manner described above in connection with FIG. 1.

Additional capabilities of the present invention, applicable to each ofthe above embodiments, will now be described. One additional capabilityenables the AUR system 170 (shown in FIG. 1) to be automaticallyupdated—entries in the AUR database are changed dynamically as they areadded or modified: e.g., ReachNumber is added (and removed) as the usertravels; ModemIP is added (and removed) as the user dials into an IPnetwork via modem, etc. In order for this to occur, there has to be aconnection between the user and the AUR system (in order to define andenter the ReachNumber) and so between communications machines and theAUR (in order to define and enter the ModemIP address or an activecellular number). In addition, other changes could be automatically madein the AUR database, such that the AUR database is kept up-to-date(e.g., the AUR system could receive periodic updates of home phonenumbers from local carriers, etc.). A user may also update that user'sentries in the AUR database; the user's ability to do so may be subjectto verification of the user's identity for security purposes.

An extension of the user's ability to establish preferences for beingcontacted or communicated with is to make the preferred options

whether based upon the identity of the subscriber attempting to contactthe user, or upon time of the day, upon day of the week, or upon othercircumstances, etc.—be learned by the AUR system in accordance with howthe individual reacts to communications from different subscribers.There are many techniques useful for implementing a learning featureknown to those skilled in the art. The learning could, illustratively,take place whether by looking at past behavior of the user to differentcalling patterns, or by studying the patterns of new users for aselected period to learn their preferences and behaviors. Thus, forexample, if the individual always calls someone who beeps themimmediately, then the system would learn to change priorities to callingan active phone number rather than the pager for that user.Alternatively, the system could automatically add entries to the cachewhenever a user communicates with a new individual on a somewhat regularbasis. Similarly, the AUR may eliminate entries from the cache wheneverthey were unused for some specified period of time.

The learning feature described above may be added to the brokeringprocess in one embodiment of the present invention. In anotherembodiment of the present invention, the learning capability describedabove is included, but the brokering process is not included.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that the above-describedlearning capability of the AUR system with respect to the “preference”features—under which the AUR system may learn the user's preferredoptions—may also be extended to the AUR cache described above withreference to FIG. 4 or 5. Thus, the AUR cache may store subscriberpreferences for contacting a particular user or users; the AUR cache mayalso learn subscriber preferences based upon subscriber interaction withthe AUR system in connection with one or more particular users. Forexample, the pointer information for a given user may be added to orsubtracted from a subscriber's AUR cache based upon a given number ofrequests by the subscriber for user contact information made within afixed or variable period of time.

Another extension of the AUR system includes a “Find Me” service wherebya user appends an audio message along with the user record in the AURdatabase providing information about contacting the user, such asannouncing where the user can be located during periods of travel,afternoon outings to the mall, etc. This would be especially useful forfamily members who want to track down children, parents, relatives, etc.Access to such “Find Me” service information for a particular user couldbe restricted to selected lists of individuals for security purposes,e.g., in order to prevent thieves from finding out when an individual isaway from home, etc.

In summary, a system for creating and accessing an Active User Registryhas been described that enables a subscriber to obtain an appropriateoption for communicating with a user.

What has been described is merely illustrative of the application of theprinciples of the present invention. Other arrangements and methods canbe implemented by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit and scope of the present invention.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for use by a system that storesfor a user in association with at least one communications option, oneor more preferences that are all to be met by a communication that usesthe associated option in order for the system to transmit thecommunication to the user, the method comprising receiving a requestfrom a subscriber for a communications address to which communicationsusing a first communications option specified by the subscriber can betransmitted to the user, and if said first specified communicationsoption does not meet all or any of said preferences for said specifiedcommunications option, identifying at least one communications addressto which communications can be sent using a second communications optionfor which any of said preferences for that second communications optionare all met while not providing the requested communications address tothe subscriber.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least onecommunications option is one of landline telephony, cellular telephony,video telephony, voice messaging, e-mail, video mail, facsimile, beeper,and real-time IP.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising providingthe identified communications address to the subscriber.
 4. The methodof claim 1 wherein said second communications option is a non-text-basedcommunications option and the message is accepted from the subscriber intext form and converted to non-text form.
 5. The method of claim 1further comprising providing the requested communications address to thesubscriber if said first specified communications option does meet allof said preferences for that communications option.
 6. The method ofclaim 5 further comprising prompting the subscriber to provide one of a)a message that is be transmitted to the user using the firstcommunications option, and b) information identifying a location of sucha message, said identified communications address not being provided tothe subscriber.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein one of said first andsecond communications options is a voice communications option and theother is a text communications option.
 8. The method of claim 1 whereinat least one of said preferences is established by the system learninghow the user reacts to communications from different subscribers.
 9. Themethod of 2 further comprising prompting the subscriber to provide oneof a) a message that is be transmitted to the user using the secondcommunications option, and b) information identifying a location of sucha message, and initiating transmission of the message to the user, whilenot providing the identified communications address to the subscriber.10. The method of 2 wherein said second communications option is atext-based communications option and the message is accepted from thesubscriber in non-text form and converted to text form.
 11. The methodof 2 wherein said second communications option is selected based on itshaving at least one communications property in common with the firstcommunications option.
 12. The method of 2 wherein at least one of saidpreferences is changed by the system automatically.
 13. A method for useby a system that stores for a user in association with at least onecommunications option, one or more preferences that are all to be met bya communication that uses that option in order for the system totransmit the communication to the user, the method comprising receivinga first communication from a subscriber, said first communication usinga first communications option which is not a communications option forwhich all stored preferences are met, and transmitting to acommunications address associated with the user at least a portion ofthe information content of said first communication, said informationcontent being transmitted in a second communication using a secondcommunications option, said second communication being a communicationfor which any preferences stored by the system for said secondcommunications option are all met.
 14. The method of 13 wherein said atleast one communications option is one of landline telephony, cellulartelephony, video telephony, voice messaging, e-mail, video mail,facsimile, beeper, and real-time IP.
 15. The method of claim 14 whereinsaid second communications option is selected based on its having atleast one communications property in common with the firstcommunications option.
 16. The method of claim 13 wherein one of saidfirst and second communications is a voice communication and the otheris a text communication.
 17. The method of claim 13 wherein at least oneof said preferences is changed by the system automatically.
 18. Themethod of claim 14 wherein at least one of said preferences isestablished by the system learning how the user reacts to communicationsfrom different subscribers.
 19. A method for use by a system that storesfor a user in association with at least one communications option, oneor more preferences that are all to be met by a communication that usesthat option in order for the system to transmit the communication to theuser, the method comprising receiving a request from a subscriber for acommunications address to which communications using a communicationsoption specified by the subscriber can be transmitted to the user, andif said specified communications option meets all of any saidpreferences for said specific communications option, prompting thesubscriber for one of a) a message that is be transmitted to the userusing the first communications option, and b) information identifying alocation of such a message, and initiating transmission of the messageto the user, while not providing the requested communications address tothe subscriber.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein said at least onecommunications option is one of landline telephony, cellular telephony,video telephony, voice messaging, e-mail, video mail, facsimile, beeper,and real-time IP.
 21. The method of claim 19 wherein at least one ofsaid preferences is changed by the system automatically.
 22. The methodof 19 further comprising if said specified communications option doesnot meet all of any preferences stored for said specified communicationsoption, identifying at least one communications address to whichcommunications for the user can be transmitted using a secondcommunications option for which any said preferences are all met. 23.The method of claim 22 further comprising providing the identifiedcommunications address to the subscriber.
 24. The method of claim 22further comprising prompting the subscriber to provide one of a) amessage that is be transmitted to the user using the secondcommunications option, and b) information identifying a location of sucha message, said identified communications address not being provided tothe subscriber.
 25. The method of claim 22 wherein said secondcommunications option is a non-text-based communications option, whereinthe message is accepted from the subscriber in text form, and whereinthe method further comprises converting the message from text form tonon-text-form.
 26. The method of claim 22 wherein said secondcommunications option is a text-based communications option, wherein themessage is accepted from the subscriber in non-text form, and whereinthe method further comprises converting the message from non-text formto text-form.
 27. The method of 22 wherein said second communicationsoption is selected based on its having at least one communicationsproperty in common with the first communications option.
 28. The methodof claim 22 wherein one of said first and second communications optionsis a voice communications option and the other is a text communicationsoption.
 29. The method of 20 wherein at least one of said preferences isestablished by the system learning how the user reacts to communicationsfrom different subscribers.